Guidance for Pilgrims to the Cathedral

Contemplation: Chartres

Contemplative prayer is a wonderful tool for enjoying God’s presence while you are in Chartres.

Words that come to mind when I think of contemplation include
Pondering
Calmly considering
Reflecting from my heart
Knowing with my spirit-self
Centering

Contemplation involves letting distractions pass by. The gifts are contemplation are multitudinous, but they do have a cost. For one thing, we have to give up activity to pursue the goal of resting with God.

Comtemplative activities that may deepen your prayer while at Chartres (with references to statues or stained glass images that illustrate these activities)

Sewing (Mary, south choir ambulatory, sculpture next to Joseph dreaming)
Washing (Contemplative woman, north porch)
Reading (north porch, south porch Mary in sprocket)
Praying (Small sculpture on the bottom of the south porch trumeau)
Writing (Augustine window in south nave clerstory rose window)
Pondering (Mary in various annunciation images throughout the cathedral including the capital frieze on the north side of the west wall)
Thinking (God, left side of the outer central voussoir on the north porch)
Dreaming (Joseph in the Life of Christ window in the center of the west wall)

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